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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES E. EGAN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WILLIAM Y. MILES AND S. \V. SMITH, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

SOLUTION FOR VOLTAIC BATTERIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 381,542, dated April 24, 1888.

Application filed September 8, 1887.

To all 2071.012 it may concern.-

Be it knowh that I, CHARLES E. EGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golumbus, in the county of Franklin and State 5 of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Solutions for Voltaic Batteries,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to single fluid batteries of that class which will not polarize, and has (O for its objectthe production ofa solution which will preserve the electro-motive force of the cell, will be clean in its action, free from the formation of salts which materially change the resistance of the cell, and yield a current :5 of high electro-inotive force and be adapted for closed or open circuit work.

To this end my invention is embodied in a fluid composed of ferric sulphate, chromic acid, and water. A considerable range of 20 proportions of these materials may be used with good practical results. I have found a mixture of the following proportions to yield great efficiency: Dry chromic aoid,one-fourth ounce; ferric sulphate, Fe (SO-i) 3 or Fe (80)4,

2 5 two ounces; water, one quart. ll ith zinc as the soluble electrode this solution yields a current of high electro-rnotive force and great Serial No. 249,194. (No specimens.)

constancy. The elements may he allowed to remain in the fluid which does not seriously attack the soluble element on open circuit. 0

Just what react-ion takes place in the batv tery I am not at present prepared to say positively; but the two fluids act more efficiently together than either does alone. The electromotive force of a cell so excited has an internal resistance of something over one-half ohm and an elcctro-inotive force of about 2.07 volt-s, thus yielding a current of about four amperes. The zinc products of the battery seem to be insoluble and fall to the bottom of the cell.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. An excitant for a galvanic'battery con taining ferric sulphate and a chromi'c compound.

2. An excitant for a galvanic battery consisting of ferric sulphate, chromic acid, and water.

CHARLES E. EGAN.

In presence 05- O. N. N. PARKER, GEO. B. FRAVEL. 

